What is Godly Play?

Children have an innate sense of the presence of God. The Godly Play approach helps them to explore their faith through story, to gain religious language and to enhance their spiritual experience though wonder and play. Based on Montessori principles and developed using a spiral curriculum, the Godly Play method serves children through early, middle and late childhood and beyond. Come join us!

Godly Play® News

Breadcrumbs

The eighth Godly Play Conference to be held in North America will be a time for everyone – from experienced trainers to curious newcomers – to deepen understanding of the art and practice of Godly Play in North America and around the world. The conference will be held June 20-22, 2019 at the Sheraton Hotel, amid the extraordinary hospitality, rugged beauty and playful environment of St. John’s, Newfoundland – the easternmost city in Canada.

St. John’s, Newfoundland

Featured Speakers

ELAINE CHAMPAGNE – Dr. Elaine Champagne is an associate professor in the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Laval (Québec, Canada), where she holds the Chair in Educational Leadership in Spiritual Theology and Spiritualities.

REBECCA NYE – Dr Rebecca Nye is a specialist in childhood spirituality. In her published works she has explored this theme in church, school, hospital and home contexts with pre-schoolers to teens. Applying her training in psychology to issues in Christian ministry, Rebecca spent eight years in the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge, where she introduced Godly Play to the UK.

PETER PRIVETT – The Reverend Peter Privett is a priest in the Church of England, currently part of the Family Ministry Team at St. Andrew’s Church in Rugby. He is a Godly Play practitioner and international trainer, as well as Chair of the Godly Play International Council (GPIC).

ANDREW SHELDON – The Reverend Canon Doctor Andrew Sheldon serves as the Godly Play Advocate for International Development.

Breadcrumbs

Andrea Harrison is the Godly Play specialist for the UK territory. She enjoys travelling the UK to support and encourage people working with children and adults in many contexts. She offers introductory training days in Godly Play and is currently working to promote Godly Play in the Salvation Army. Below Andrea shares where her story intersected with Godly Play for the first time and how it has shaped her ministry and the lives of those she crosses.

In 2006 I started working as a trainer for The Salvation Army after a career as an English teacher in secondary schools when my new boss asked me if I had ever heard of Godly Play. I hadn’t, and I wasn’t particularly keen to find out more, but he insisted for there had been many inquiries about it. And so, I found myself on a three-day Core Training in Cambridge with Dr. Rebecca Nye and The Rev. Peter Privet. Although I enjoyed the course, I was not convinced that Godly Play would be readily accepted in The Salvation Army. Nevertheless, I thought I would give Godly Play a go with my own Sunday School class in the Anglican Church. It was then that I was converted! The children were engaged and thoughtful in a way that I had never seen before. Slowly I began offering Godly Play taster sessions on training days and the interest grew and developed. My job was becoming more about Godly Play than anything else. Rebecca started talking to me about the necessity of liturgical action stories for The Salvation Army: Communion, Baptism, and the Circle of the Church Year are not applicable in The Salvation Army, but there are traditions and practices that are key. For instance, each Salvation Army church will have its own flag used on special occasions and a Mercy Seat, which is a place of prayer.

In 2012 I travelled to the Netherlands for the Training for Trainers Course and on my return began work on stories in the style of Godly Play with Rebecca and a group of senior Salvation Army officers. Three stories emerged: one about belonging to God, based around The Salvation Army Flag; another about meeting God at the Mercy Seat, and finally one about the Social Action work of The Salvation Army.

Rebecca was the author and was clear that the stories would need extensive trials with children. From across the UK, at a summer camp for children from inner city Glasgow, a Belfast after-school-club, and an inner-city Sunday School we got feedback and revisions were made. Now, we are on the fourth version of the stories and revision is on-going. The presentations build from images, language, and action that children regularly doing Godly Play would encounter. They are very popular, however, with adult groups and have been a gateway through which people have discovered Godly Play, understanding from the outset that Godly Play is a powerful place of encounter for all ages in a wide variety of contexts.

Child working with the story of Catherine Booth, co-founder of The Salvation Army

Since 2013 there have been seventeen three- day courses and over two hundred people have been trained. The Salvation Army, both in the UK and overseas, provides funding for this training. Trained Salvationists across the world from Jamaica, Pakistan, Australia, Samoa, and Europe are recognizing that Godly Play has the gift of taking us to the child within us, as well as to God. It is proving to be a place for the beginning of healing for many whose broken and chaotic childhoods have shaped their adult beings. Now Rebecca has written a story about Catherine Booth, and another about William is being developed at present. Only people who have undertaken training in Godly Play can access the scripts and materials. We look at them on accredited Core Trainings that are organized for people primarily from The Salvation Army.

The Creation story being shared in Pakistan

We have so many stories about the impact of Godly Play and The Salvation Army stories. Here is a taste of what is happening in our circles:

“The impact of the Godly Play training for me has gone far beyond simply doing Godly Play with a group. It has influenced my preaching, my approach to adult discipleship groups, and the way that I talk about bible stories with my own children. And I’ve been personally challenged every time I have heard a Godly Play story in ways that have really stuck with me amid everyday life. Using the Army stories has been a great way to talk about Army traditions both with people who are new to the Army but also people who have grown up with our symbols and stories but forgotten what they really mean. For example, using the Flag story on Commitment Sunday was incredibly moving as people brought their commitment to place on the flag and then generated meaningful conversation about mission afterwards.” -Naomi Clifton

“The SAFE Summer School is for people living with disabilities. The delegates range from adults with learning difficulties through adults with severe physical disabilities. The challenge for many years has been to create a bible study that will reach all of the delegates at their levels. Last year we used Godly Play instead of the traditional bible study. We had three sessions and used ‘The Great Family’, ‘Exodus’ and ‘the Ten Best Ways’. The response from the delegates was great and was the most involved and engaged I have seen many of them in bible study for years. One 60-year-old woman’s realization that her mother had been ‘Pharaoh’ when we did the Exodus story was incredibly moving. The Exodus story also resonated with many of the delegates when it came to the bit where the Hebrews had to do everything that Pharaoh said; the realization being that, for many of them, that is their reality – they are ‘slaves’ to their situation.” – Keith Turton

“I used the Holy Family with a small congregation. As I was setting up before the meeting the officer’s son, a little boy of 5, asked who the Risen Christ figure was. I got into wondering with this straight away – Yes, I wonder who it could be? He thought for a while and then said, ‘It’s my Grandad, he’s in heaven……..is it my grandad?’ (I was stunned into silence.) I said,’ Well, let’s have a look at some of the other pieces in the box too…’ and we set the Holy Family up together. He said no more about the figure but kept touching it. When it came to the time in the service when Godly Play was experienced, he sat silently until I lifted the Christ child to the risen Christ and his face lit up…’I thought it was my granddad, but it’s the real Jesus!’” -Liz Hall

“In all settings I have been amazed at the power of response. Every time I have doubted when introducing Godly Play in a different setting, e.g., with completely unchurched families, but God has been faithful, and His Spirit has worked in a powerful way. So many stories I could tell. An adult who brought themselves to the flag; the teenagers who were adamant that the people in Social Action be brought to Jesusbecause mission should be holistic and include social action and faith; the non-church child who suggested that a Mercy Seat could be in your heart so that it’s always available; the group of officers of all ages who laid on the floor playing with the desert bag; and the Ten Best Ways ‘debating’ how the stone tablets should be placed – whether they made a wall of protection around the people or whether that wall was preventing others from joining; the 8 year old boy who on the final evening of Junior camp, having spent the whole week experiencing and exploring the story of Joseph, exclaimed halfway through the Joseph story ‘I get it!’ And his face just lit up! And I have so many more stories to share!” -Debbie Eaton

The Flag and Ceremonies in the Life of a Salvationist from the Children’s perspective

“I remained a little skeptical about Godly Play all through the training course and right up to the time I first did it with children. I just couldn’t imagine that kids would sit still, quiet and attentive through the story, but they did, and they have done each time I have done it. Wow, I was surprised. I was also afraid I’d fluff my lines, as my memory isn’t great, but that hasn’t happened. That’s just as surprising. Over the last year or so I’ve done it at Sunday schools, midweek kids’ clubs, an intergenerational cell group, office prayers, officer’s retreat, a youth training event, and even a kids’ Christmas party. Leaders at all the churches have been shocked at how well the kids’ case of Messy have listened and been captivated by the story and how they have entered into the wondering and response. It’s been such a joy to lead Godly Play and provide a way for children (and adults) to encounter God.” -Adrian Kemp

I now have a job dedicated just to Godly Play – helping to promote, train and support delivery. This position is unique to any denomination in the UK. Working in a focused way with a single denomination has been exciting and liberating. We have been able to explore the huge potential of Godly Play in a variety of contexts: with children at camp; under 5s; care homes; older people’s groups; safe houses; chaplaincy and more!

Breadcrumbs

In this season of giving, the Godly Play Foundation has given a gift:A Lending Library of Stories of God at Home for Church of our Saviour in Arlington, MA

Several weeks ago the Godly Play Foundation dreamed up a special way to celebrate Christmas in 2018 – to give a whole set of Home Edition Godly Play lessons and two copies of Stories of God at Home: A Godly Play Approach to a church ready to dive into this ministry but lacking the resources to establish it. This church would then have the opportunity to set up a lending library for families interested in trying out the stories at home. To further support this ministry, the Rev. Cheryl Minor, Ph.D., the Director of the Center for the Theology of Childhood for the Foundation will offer a free workshop at the parish for parents.

When asked which parish should be chosen, Dr. Minor immediately named The Church of Saviour in Arlington, Massachusetts. Church of our Saviour is a small parish. Their Rector, the Rev. Malia Crawford, has a special heart for children and has worked tirelessly during her time at Our Saviour to serve the children in her community. In addition to developing a small, but thriving Godly Play program with very little budget, she developed a monthly service intentionally designed for babies, toddlers, and their families. The service has been wildly successful and has become program which in turn supports their Godly Play program.

Mid-Advent, Dr. Minor had the opportunity to deliver the stories and books in person to the Rev. Crawford and her Director of Christian Formation, Fiona Vidal. Both Crawford and Vidal spoke about how transforming Godly Play has been for the children and families in their parish. They are always looking for opportunities to bring Godly Play into the all-ages service and other times during the church year. Stories of God at Home seems like a wonderful new opportunity to extend into people’s homes what they already are doing so well at church.

Additionally, Rev. Crawford spoke of several faithful families in the parish who have one or more parents who have to work on Sunday mornings, so this will be a special opportunity for them to access faith formation for their children since they cannot always get to Sunday morning Godly Play.

Dr. Minor and the team at Our Saviour quickly put together a plan for a workshop for parents during the season of Lent. The plan is to introduce them to the book and prepare them to use the “Knowing Jesus in a New Way” lesson at home during the season of Easter. In the meantime, Vidal will organize the lending library for parents so the stories can begin to be used immediately.

It was simply thrilling to give this gift to this special community – one with a unique charism for children! We pray the stories will find their way into many homes, and that they will stimulate family storytelling and theological reflection for years to come!

UPDATE!!!! We have now been offered an additional $2500 in matching gifts, which raises our total goal to $10,000. By the grace of God, we have almost met this challenge!! Please contribute to what will surely be a wonderful “win” on New Year’s Eve—please join us and become part of this story!

What does your gift do?

The short answer is that your gift to the Godly Play Foundation goes directly to the work of bringing quality Godly Play to children of all ages throughout the world—directly to our vision of enlarging our circle to include every child of God.

How do we spread quality Godly Play across the globe?

We do it together!

Some of the proposals for the next couple of years include:

Increasing our scholarships for training and materials to support churches who have the time and talent but are lacking the treasure to launch or expand their Godly Play program

Adding story videos to our YouTube page, which we know many people find invaluable in preparing to tell their weekly story

Breadcrumbs

I attended my first official Godly Play workshop in 2013 at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church in San Angelo, Texas, and although it was just an introduction to the method, I was excited to finally attend a real Godly Play event! My husband and I were in discernment about a potential toddler adoption, and so I personally felt unsettled and nervous about the future. But I knew this introductory workshop was something I needed to do for me. After dinner in the church fellowship hall, we settled into a circle on the floor and introduced ourselves.

“Hi, I’m Beth, and I’m actually from South 11th and Willis Church of Christ in Abilene.” An elderly woman sitting nearby raised her eyebrows, and I heard her whisper in a somber tone, “The Lord help you!” I laughed, because I knew what she meant. The Churches of Christ are located in what scholars call the Restoration Movement, which began in the early 19th century. Some of the movement’s key “features” include: local autonomous churches, a shedding of all creeds, and a reliance on the Bible as the one and only revelation of God to humankind. There was to be no fancy high church liturgy and no instrumental music. One of its highest aspirations was to restore Christianity to what it would have looked like in the first century (as much as possible), as described in the New Testament.

So yeah, it seemed a little strange that a lady from a conservative, non-liturgical, and historically fundamentalist religious group was hanging out with liberal Episcopalians. I guess I’ve never been good at knowing where I belong. Continue reading →